If you've gotta protect them from deer browsing and rubbing, the tubes are a good, relatively inexpensive fix. Agree, if you're growing standard trees - and especially if they're wildlife soft mast trees, there's no need to have limbs below the top of the tubes.

I haven't had any luck with tree tubes in my climate. Growth is spindly and the trees fail to harden off for winter. I use welded wire enclosures anchored with EMT conduit to protect the trees from browsing deer.

I consider a tree tube as protection against rabbits munching lower trunk of a tree which is worse than deer eating branches. You can use fabric cloth and make a wide ring around each tree about 3 ft tall.

You have 30 trees, you may want to consider setting up a deer fence. Keep in mind a deer can jump over a 6ft fence. Rabbits sometimes find a way to dig under deer fence.

Be sure to get 'vented' tree tubes/shelters... that should help address any issues with them not hardening off for winter. I'll agree... growth inside the tubes is often rapid/vigorous - but spindly... but in some settings, you're assured of failure due to deer/rabbit damage if you don't use them.

I've tried the vented ones with no luck. I've also had issues with bears and rutting bucks damaging the tubes and the trees inside. Welded wire enclosures secured with EMT conduit work much better in my environment.

Yikes! No bears to deal with here - but the hooved rats are my biggest nemesis.